posted
I'm stuck. I need something quick and easy for dinner tomorrow evening when we're having friends over. There will be several children. Standbys like spaghetti or soup don't sound good (too HOT for soup!) and I can't think of anything. I'd prefer to go meatless if possible, but it's not a big deal. No grilling, as Mr. Opera will be hanging drywall and I don't like to grill. Thank you, chefs of Hatrack!
posted
Hmm...my mom always liked to make "salad bar" when it was hot out. Just prep a whole bunch of lettuce, cut up some tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots, mushrooms, hard-boiled egg, maybe grilled chicken or ham or something for protein, and whatever else you like in a salad, and set it all out in bowls for people to assemble their own. Minimal cooking involved, just get some nice crusty bread to serve on the side.
Posts: 957 | Registered: Aug 2002
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posted
This isn't fancy, but you could make Ziti. Or, my favorite, LaZiti. I mix up cooked ziti noodles with sauce, put a layer of that on the bottom of a baking dish, then a layer of ricotta, then another layer of ziti and sauce, then top off with more ricotta and mozzerella. Then I bake it for 30 minutes or so at 350. It's yummy and has a fun name. I've made the same thing with macaroni noodles and called it LaRoni.
It's pretty easy to make, too. I don't really like to follow recipes exactly...it's more fun to change things as I'm in the mood.
Served with a simple salad (I love those bags of prewashed lettuce) and garlic bread... easy yummy meal. Kids would love it.
posted
Squash and spinach lasagne is easy. So is pizza -- especially "make your own" pizza. If you want to grill, do kabobs.
Posts: 37449 | Registered: May 1999
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*laugh* Brett, I'm 7 months pregnant. If you knew how many times a week my family eats take-out pizza you would swoon.
I think I'm gonna do Stray's salad bar idea, along with some bread, sliced cheese, etc. I wish I liked to cook more. I love making breads and desserts (got fresh banana bread cooling on a rack right now) but I've never enjoying everyday cooking.
Tante, some of the stuff you suggested made me very hungry. What is babaganoush? And Tom, if you wanna send your recipe for that squash/spinach lasagne my way I'd be a happy girl.
Katarain, I like to make ziti too. Since I've already made it for these particular friends several times I figured I'd better branch out.
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I just had some folks over. I made pizza. One good thing is making it can be a fun project with the guests, especially kids. Depending on your relationship. I used frozen bread dough loafs, but wished I had made it from scratch like I usually do. It was too elastic to roll and smooshy when baked.
Having a salad as a token side dish is good.
Posts: 2010 | Registered: Apr 2003
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I'm no cook, and you have wonderful ideas here. Stray's salad bar idea mirrored my own -- we sometimes just do a "taco bar" (although we aren't vegetarian, so ours includes taco meat) with bowls and bowls of different toppings and choices, and taco shells and tortilla wraps, etc., and everyone just makes their own! That way everyone's happy, and all is well.
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As a kid, I would have been more excited about a taco/burrito bar than a salad bar... Just something to consider. And a taco/burrito bar has about the same ingredients as a salad bar, with meat, beans, and some sort of shells.
As a kid my salads had lettuce, cucumbers, olives, and ranch dressing. Tomatoes were ick (not now!) and a salad wouldn't have been very filling. Are these picky kids??
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I like to do an assortment of salads and "side" dishes-- potato salad, green salad, 3-bean salad, hummus with pita, fruit salad, macaroni salad, cucumber salad, coleslaw, etc.-- when it's too hot to cook or for an "open house" type party. Although sometimes I throw in some chicken, either a quick at-home recipe or a pre-roasted one from the store.
Posts: 21182 | Registered: Sep 2004
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posted
If you and your friends enjoy spicy food, Thai Eggplant green curry is excellent and easy to make if you can buy the curry paste at an asian grocery. Serve it with rice and salad and mango ice cream for dessert. I would probably make Pad Thai as well but it isn't needed.
Posts: 12591 | Registered: Jan 2000
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quote:Originally posted by Tante Shvester: Babaganoush -- serve with pita. Yummy.
Ugh, with tehina? Never! Use a little mayo instead. Also, it's lots easier to peel a raw eggplant than a cooked one, and if you wrap it tightly in greased foil (or Release foil, if you have it) it comes out just as well. A little better, even. And that recipe needs another garlic clove.
Posts: 32919 | Registered: Mar 2003
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posted
Hey...a taco bar would be pretty fun for the kids, wouldn't it? How much hamburger should I fry for us? (It's been a loooong time since I prepared hamburger!) There will be 4 adults and 5 children. Do I make anything to go on the side or not? I've never found anything that I think "goes" with tacos.
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You can use either hamburger or turkey; a good rule of thumb is 1/4 to 1/3 lb. of meat per person, about the amount that would be in a hamburger. If there are people who don't eat meat, reduce it a little and make sure to include kidney beans and corn. Posts: 21182 | Registered: Sep 2004
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posted
Oh, and you can either use taco shells or tortilla chips, and provide flour tortillas as an alternative. Guacamole is a good side/topping. Fresh salsa is, too. And they go with the afore-mentioned chips.
Fruit salad is always a good accompaniment, especially if you throw in some "tropical" fruits, like mango or pineapple.
Posts: 21182 | Registered: Sep 2004
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posted
Oh, and if I may suggest it, get a box of flan mix (we always used Royal brand growing up) and make it for dessert. It's easy, it sticks with the theme, it's made ahead of time, you can put it in individual custard cups or one (or two) big pie plate(s), and it gets some extra dairy into everyone. Posts: 21182 | Registered: Sep 2004
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posted
I think that if you do a salad bar and a taco bar, that will be plenty. I usually serve rice with any kind of Mexican food. It doesn't have to be Mexican or Spanish rice - the deli sections in our supermarkets have a lot of good cold summer rices that would be fine.
As long as you're doing a bar theme, what about a sundae bar? All you do is set out ice cream, toppings, bowls, scoops, and spoons and let everyone go nuts. I recommend setting up this particular bar on a thick disposable tablecloth.
BTW, I have family (Andrew's) coming in August and I'm not doing any cooking at all and I'll only be 5.5 months.
Posts: 3037 | Registered: Jan 2002
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Are these picky kids?? 
